Allon Hopeful That Next Stage of Negotiations with Arabs Will Result in Some Progress

October 3, 1974

NEW YORK (Oct. 2)

Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon said after an almost two-hour “working breakfast” meeting with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger today that his impression is that the Arab countries at the moment are not ready to negotiate on a final settlement with Israel but that there are chances that the next negotiations will center on an attempt to reach an interim agreement.

He said the latter would be comprised of two major parts: redeployment of military forces and territorial changes; and bringing the political and legal situation from the cease-fire to a state of non-belligerency. Allon told newsmen that at the end of the upcoming round of talks between Kissinger and the pertinent governments, agreement probably would be reached on what the subjects will be in the next round of negotiations and when, where and under what conditions they will be held. Allon added. “I see good signs for expected progress.”

ISSUE OF PALESTINIANS RAISED

The Israeli Foreign Minister said his breakfast meeting with Kissinger at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations was largely devoted to the American attitude at the current session of the General Assembly. He said that he had raised the subject of an invitation to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) by the General Assembly and its recognition by that body as the representative of the Palestinians.

Allon said he told the Secretary that debate on the “Palestine Question” at the UN could poison and endanger the expected resumption of the Geneva peace conference on the Middle East According to Allon, there has been no change in U.S. policy on the Palestinian issue from previous years.

Allon said that Israel’s position is that the Palestinian identity issue could be resolved in the context of a peace agreement between Israel and Jordan. He disclosed that he has raised the subject of the Palestinian question in talks with a number of Foreign Ministers attending the General Assembly session, including the Foreign Ministers of Rumania and Turkey. Allon is scheduled to address the Assembly tomorrow.